• Yannis Manios, Odysseas Androutsos, Christina Katsarou, Eleni Anna Vampouli, Zbigniew Kulaga, Beata Gurzkowska, Violeta Iotova, Natalya Usheva, Greet Cardon, Berthold Koletzko, Luis A Moreno, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij.
• Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science & Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: Manios@hua.gr.
• Nutrition. 2018 Nov 1; 55-56: 192-198.

ObjectivesHealth inequalities are observed among different regions and socioeconomic groups. The present study aimed to record the prevalence of overweight and obesityamong preschoolers across six European countries in relation to sociodemographic and family factors.MethodsA total of 7554 preschool-aged children and their parents participated in the ToyBox-study. Children's weight and height were measured and parents self-reported their weight, height, and family sociodemographic data using questionnaires. Data were obtained in May and June 2012.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity ranged from 10.0% in Germany to 20.6% in Greece and was found to be higher in children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families as well as children with two overweight or obese parents. Children from low-SES families and children with overweight or obese parents were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with their peers from medium- or high-SES families or those with normal-weight parents, respectively.ConclusionsIn a large sample of European preschoolers, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be higher in Southern and Eastern European countries compared with Central and Northern European countries. Higher prevalence was recorded among low-SES families and in children with overweight or obese parents, which indicates that these areas and vulnerable groups need to be prioritized to close the gap in health and social inequalities and provide more effective prevention of early childhood obesity.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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